Morning links: The trouble with fossil energies

Welcome to the Texas on the Potomac news links. Every morning, we offer Texas links, “Potomac” links for Washington stories and a sampling of the best Texas political blogs. Check back with us at midday and the end of the afternoon for more news links.

Texas Links

Texas, probably more than any other state, is aggressively building new coal plants, even as the EPA is due to begin regulating greenhouse gas emissions in January. Texas Tribune>>>

Republicans expect big gains in the Texas House while Democrats laugh off the GOP’s excitement. Houston Chronicle>>>

Troubles involving Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson’s scholarship awards spread Tuesday to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, where the head of minority contracting has been put on leave amid questions about college aid that Johnson gave his daughter. Dallas Morning News>>>

Potomac Links

After the administration’s lifted the ban on offshore oil drilling, the Washington Post analyzes how Obama and his team endorsed deepwater drilling in the first place. Washington Post>>>

In the home stretch of the 2010 campaign, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, more than even President Barack Obama, is emerging as the heaviest drag on Democratic hopes of holding on to the House. Politico>>>

In a potential sign of Democratic unease with the White House midterm political strategy, some of President Obama’s allies have begun to question his sustained attack on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. LA Times>>>

As campaigns have become nationalized and Senate candidates, in particular, all seem to have been prepped by the same small cadre of handlers, TV debates have taken on a paint-by-numbers quality. Politics Daily>>>

Republicans might win eight out of 10 competitive open House seats, a new poll finds. The Hill>>>

Texas Blogs

PolitiFact Texas debunks a claim Chet Edwards makes in a TV ad in which he says that „liberals wanted to take away our guns” and that he said no. PolitiFact Texas>>>

The Back to Basics political committee, heavily funded by trial lawyers, is hitting Gov. Rick Perry again in a new television commercial. Houston Chronicle>>>